Artists use a variey of brushes to achieve different effects.
Humans used paint brushes as early as 40,000 B.C., according to anthropologists, noted a writer on the Artchive website. The earliest brushes were made of twigs, feathers, leaves and animal hairs. Natural hair is still preferred today, although some synthetic brushes work just as well.
Parts
All brushes have three main parts: the hair; the ferrule, which holds the hair to the handle; and the handle. The most expensive brushes use natural hair because it is flexible yet strong and returns to its original shape. Sable is the most valued, but ox, squirrel and boar bristle are also used. Fine synthetic brushes are available today that simulate natural hair and are cheaper.
Types
Artists use different sizes and shapes of brushes to achieve different effects. Some have soft, pointed hair for painting detail and spreading thin paint; others have coarse bristles to control the flow of paint. The most common shapes are round, flats, filberts, mops, fans and liners.
Steps
The brush maker sets the hairs in a form and taps it until the hairs fall evenly to the bottom, creating a natural tip at the top. He rolls the hair between his fingers to achieve the desired shape and secures it with string, glues the hairs into the ferrule, then shapes the ferrule around the handle to complete the brush.
